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Delta Getting In On Oil Boom, Offering Flights To N.D.

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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Delta Airlines is making a move to cash in on the oil boom in North Dakota.

This week, the carrier announced two daily nonstop flights from Minneapolis to Williston, N.D.

That’s the center of the current Bakken oil boom. The flights aren’t exactly cheap, but Delta’s betting the cost will be affordable for people hoping to get in on the oil action.

“They have seen a considerable amount of growth in the last several years due to oil and gas production,” said Delta spokesperson Anthony Black.

The new Delta service will run at 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. every day starting Nov. 12. Tickets will run anywhere from $550 to $700.

But ask anyone who’s seen the exponential growth in and around Williston, and they say it’s a fair price.

“For people going to Williston, I think it’ll be worth it,” North Dakota resident Gary Friedrich said. “They’re going to be making good money out there, so I don’t think it’s going to be a problem at all.”

Representatives with Delta say the nonstops aren’t just a way to get people to Williston, but to get those doing business there, to key markets around the world.

The flights will be on regional jets, seating about 50 people. Also, Delta isn’t the only airline trying to cash in. United is starting three nonstop daily flights from Denver to Williston in November as well.